With spring approaching, many of us focus on the (hopefully) better weather to come and spending more time outdoors. As an architectural practice, we have seen an increase in the trend for swimming pools, wine cellars, summer houses and outbuilding conversions for use as creative spaces and annexes. The focus really is on outdoor living – sunny days spent lazing around the pool or indulging a love of creativity in a converted art studio space, warm summer evenings having drinks outside on a terrace or spacious patio overlooking the surrounding landscaped gardens.
When a client has a swimming pool on their wish list, we work hand in hand with both the swimming pool specialist chosen by our client and a landscape designer. Working in partnership in this way creates a visually stunning design ensuring that all of the design elements tie in smoothly with each other. If they are located within the AONB, conservation area or near a listed building, planning permission is required and with extensive experience dealing with complex planning permissions we are ideally placed to help our clients.
Conversion of outbuildings offers a wonderful opportunity to combine contemporary designs with beautiful original features such as stone flag flooring and oak beams. Amongst the more popular conversions are pool houses, gyms, studio spaces and annexes which afford our clients a luxurious standard of living with the focus firmly set on wellbeing.
Wine cellars are also increasingly popular with simple designs such as spiral staircases with bottles of wine stored in the surrounding walls meaning that planning permissions may not always be needed, whilst lending a contemporary style to a practical feature – perfect for entertaining!